An opportunity to see some ultra rare black and white work of the late Martin Parr will be taking place at The Photographer’s Gallery in London from February.

The show – A Fair Day – Martin Parr – will run from February 6th until April 19th and will display some of the pioneering and controversial street photographer’s work from the early 1980s, back when he was working in black and white. Scroll to the end to see some highlights from the show.

Long before Parr became known for his garish, in your face colour photography, his black and white work shows that even back then, he had a fantastic eye for spotting a moment.

‘Fair Days’ were opportunities for communities in rural Ireland to come together for either trade, entertainment or to observe a religious festival. Many of the celebrations photographed by Parr still take place today, but all of this work hails from the early 1980s.

On display we see cattle trading, horse fairs, folk musicians and dance halls, and we also get a great glimpse of pictures that could only come from the 1980s, with cars and fashions of the time prominently featured.

To create this work, Parr spent two years in Ireland, getting to know his subjects and observing them with patience and kindness. They display plenty of the wit and charm he would later become known for, albeit in a more staid way thanks to the lack of colour.

This was Parr’s last major project in black and white, so it’s a good opportunity to see some early work that helped shape one of the most well-known photographers of our time.

Over the course of his long career, Parr was exhibited many times at The Photographer’s Gallery, including most recently as part of the 2024 By the Seaside show. Following his death in December 2025, the gallery says it is committed to honour the late photographer’s legacy and celebrate the huge impact he had on British photography.

As the exhibition is taking place in the Print Sales Gallery, you can buy all of those on display. Being early, black and white and signed, the prints are extremely rare. Prices start from £5,500 per print – but it could perhaps be a wise investment for the future.

Entry to this part of the gallery is free (other shows at TPG are ticketed) so if you just want to pop in and have a look, I’d highly recommend it.

Visit The Photographer’s Gallery website for more information show dates, opening times and more.

Black and white photograph of three people walking along a bridge in rainy weather. One person covers their head with a box, while the other two use umbrellas.
O’Connell Bridge, Dublin, Ireland, 1981 © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery/ The Photographers’ Gallery.
Black and white photograph of an old car in a desolate field with snow-covered mountains in the background.
Abandoned Morris Minors, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland, 1981 © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery/ The Photographers’ Gallery.
Black and white photograph showing a group of people standing on a rocky shore facing the ocean. In the distance, a person can be seen riding a horse along the water.
Glenbeigh Races, County Kerry, Ireland, 1983 © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery/ The Photographers’ Gallery.
Black and white photograph showing three farmers standing behind a row of seven sheep, with trees in the background.
Manorhamilton Sheep Fair, County Leitrim, Ireland, 1981 © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery/ The Photographers’ Gallery.
Black and white photograph of three men standing in front of a small mirror above a sink as they each attempt to fix their hair.
Amethyst Ballroom, Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland, 1982 © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery/ The Photographers’ Gallery.
Black and white photograph depicting an outdoor setting. Behind a low stone wall, a woman sits hold- ing a baby and the man stands next a tree. A statue of Mary stands near a wooden bench in front of the wall.
Mary’s Holy Well, Killargue, County Leitrim, Ireland, 1981 © Martin Parr/Magnum, courtesy Rocket Gallery/ The Photographers’ Gallery.

Read more:

Follow AP on Facebook Instagram YouTube and TikTok

google preferred source Apple News